Understanding The Different Levels Of Anxiety & How They Affect Mental Health

Medically reviewed by April Justice, LICSW and Nikki Ciletti, M.Ed, LPC
Updated July 1st, 2025 by BetterHelp Editorial Team
Content warning: Please be advised, the below article might mention trauma-related topics that could be triggering to the reader. Please see our Get Help Now page for more immediate resources.

Anxiety is a feeling that can take the form of nervousness, tension, and/or unease regarding past, present, or future events. People with anxiety disorders can generally be classified as either mild, moderate, severe, or panic-level. The latter usually qualifies as panic disorder. Read on to learn more about these four phases of anxiety. 

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A brief overview of anxiety

Feeling some level of occasional anxiety in certain situations (normal anxiety) is expected, such as before speaking in front of an audience or interviewing for a job. In other scenarios, stress may serve as a helpful warning sign that something’s not right about a situation. However, these feelings typically don’t qualify as clinical anxiety until they can be characterized as persistent, irrational, out of proportion to the actual danger of a given situation, and/or disruptive to one’s daily life or functioning.

Panic disorder and other anxiety disorders are considered mental health conditions

Anxiety disorders represent a category of mental disorders or mental health conditions. Each type may manifest with different symptoms, depending on the diagnostic criteria recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). The most common disorders include generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder (social phobia), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and panic disorder. Some symptoms that are often seen across many or most of these disorders include:

  • Difficulty controlling constant worries
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Irritability
  • Fatigue
  • A rapid heart rate
  • Sweating

Symptoms of panic disorder and other anxiety disorders can vary

These symptoms can vary according to the anxiety that a person is experiencing and the particular disorder they are diagnosed with, and they may be accompanied by other symptoms specific to the disorder they’re experiencing. For example, some people may experience physical symptoms like chest pain, nausea, heart palpitations, or headaches when the anxiety is high.

It’s also worth noting that some people might only experience symptoms in certain situations. For example, a person with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may only experience anxiety when remembering or experiencing a flashback to a traumatic event, and someone with social anxiety disorder may only feel intense fear and self-consciousness in social situations.

Anxiety disorder as a serious mental health condition

Anxiety disorders should generally be treated as serious mental health conditions that can have long-lasting health effects. That’s because chronic anxiety can interfere with a person's ability to function in their day-to-day life and may also negatively affect their relationships, work, school, and/or overall well-being. Note, however, that effective treatment is generally available for different anxiety disorders.
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The four different levels of anxiety and worry

Understanding the levels of anxiety symptoms can help you determine when it may be time to seek support. While you can connect with a healthcare provider as a result of anxiety or other mental health challenges, it may be especially important for those experiencing moderate, severe, or panic-level symptoms.

Mild anxiety

Levels of mild anxiety may or may not be classified as clinically significant and may or may not impact an individual’s daily functioning. Mild anxiety doesn’t typically require long-term or pharmacological treatment, but it could come to negatively affect a person’s day-to-day life and well-being—especially if left unaddressed. Mild anxiety can be caused by everyday stressors such as exams, work deadlines, relationships, and social situations. Mild anxiety is often temporary and doesn’t significantly impact a person’s daily functioning. However, a therapist can help an individual work to develop healthy coping mechanisms so their symptoms of mild anxiety don’t worsen. Joining support groups can also be beneficial for individuals with mild anxiety.

Moderate anxiety

Moderate anxiety is a level that is more intense than mild anxiety but is less severe than severe anxiety. Those who live with moderate anxiety may sometimes have trouble focusing on anything besides the source of their anxiety. People with moderate anxiety may experience more physical manifestations of their feelings as well, such as nausea, dizziness, fear, muscle aches, and sweating. Cognitive symptoms of moderate anxiety may include excessive worry and difficulty concentrating. Moderate anxiety is often enough to significantly impact a person’s daily functioning, potentially causing them pain and distress and making them avoid certain triggering situations. A person with moderate anxiety symptoms may be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder and can likely benefit from treatment. If self-help strategies don’t work to keep your moderate anxiety from interfering with daily life, it is often recommended to seek professional help. Treatment for moderate anxiety may include medication, psychotherapy, healthy lifestyle changes, and effective real-time coping strategies.

Severe anxiety

People with severe anxiety may experience persistent worry, intense fear, and potentially debilitating physical symptoms. Individuals with severe anxiety may find it difficult or impossible to control their feelings of persistent fear and anxiety, and these may arise from both rational and irrational sources. Aside from physical and psychological symptoms, someone with severe anxiety may also experience panic attacks, which are sudden episodes of extreme fear that are often accompanied by heart palpitations and shortness of breath. An individual who is experiencing severe anxiety symptoms most likely has some type of anxiety disorder and should consider seeking professional treatment.

Panic-level (panic disorders)

Panic-level anxiety is extremely intense and debilitating, often taking the form of frequent, usually unpredictable panic attacks along with extreme fear of having them. Panic-level anxiety is considered more intense than severe anxiety since panic-level anxiety may lead to panic disorder. Symptoms of a panic attack typically include a racing heart or heart palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, intense fear, sweating or chills, trembling, numbness or tingling in the extremities, nausea, weakness, and/or chest pains, along with a sense of impending doom and a lack of control.

Panic attacks, which are episodes of extreme fear, can last anywhere from a few minutes to half an hour. Panic attacks brought by panic-level anxiety are often sudden and may occur even in the absence of an apparent trigger. These sudden periods of panic can be intensely frightening, which can lead to the debilitating fear of having another panic attack (a symptom of panic disorder).

Panic-level anxiety can significantly affect a person’s ability to socialize and perform daily tasks. In an article published by the National Institute of Mental Health about panic disorders, some commonly used therapies for treating panic-level anxiety include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy. Medications such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or benzodiazepines may also be prescribed for individuals with extreme fear of panic attacks or panic-level anxiety.

How to manage the varying levels of anxiety

Tips for managing different levels of anxiety in addition to mental health treatment

If you’re experiencing symptoms of anxiety that are distressing or negatively impacting your functioning, relationships, school, work, and/or overall well-being, the recommended course of action is usually to consult with a mental health care provider for evaluation. It can also be helpful to read more information about the diagnostic criteria, signs, causes, and treatments for anxiety disorders. The National Institute of Mental Health offers videos, educational materials, and other resources about anxiety disorders and other mental health conditions.

In addition to professional treatment, such as medication or behavioral therapy, certain lifestyle adjustments may have a positive impact, such as the following. Be sure to consult with your doctor before making significant changes to your diet or exercise routines.

  • Exercise regularly. There’s a wealth of scientific evidence to suggest that regular exercise can help decrease symptoms of anxiety, as it can “positively impact a number of biological, as well as psychological, mechanisms”. 
  • Eat a nutrient-dense diet. Various studies also support the link between a varied, nutrient-rich diet and lower stress levels and other mental health issues. One study notes an association between higher levels of anxiety and a diet that’s high in fat, sugar, and refined carbohydrates.
  • Lean on loved ones. A 2022 study reports that “perceived social support had significant and negative correlations with anxiety, depression, and insomnia,” suggesting that having people in your life you can depend on and get care and support from may help you manage or even prevent anxiety symptoms.
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Seeking professional support for fear and anxiety symptoms

If you’re experiencing excessive anxiety symptoms, you may benefit from consulting with a mental health care professional. They can help you learn to challenge distorted thoughts that may lead to distressing feelings and behaviors related to anxiety and fear, and they can assist you in developing healthy coping mechanisms so you can manage symptoms as they arise. For more information about anxiety disorders, individuals may refer to the National Institute of Mental Health, which offers fact sheets, brochures, and research updates. Reading peer-reviewed information can be beneficial if you want to understand the diagnostic criteria of each type of anxiety disorder.

Online therapy for anxiety disorder and stress

If the prospect of meeting with a therapist in person seems intimidating or anxiety-producing, you might consider the option of connecting with a therapist online instead. With a virtual therapy platform like BetterHelp, you can get matched with a licensed provider who you can meet with via phone, video call, and/or in-app messaging to address the challenges you may be facing. Research suggests that online therapy can offer similar benefits to in-person therapy, with one study indicating that individuals with diagnosed anxiety saw “sustained and clinically meaningful improvements” in symptoms after treatment. 

Takeaway

Symptoms of anxiety can be experienced in varying forms and to varying degrees. People with anxiety disorders can often improve their symptoms with treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy, exposure therapy, and more. If you’re looking for mental health care or support in managing mental illness, you may benefit from connecting with a trained therapist to receive treatment suited to you. 

If your symptoms make it difficult to leave home, you might consider online therapy. With BetterHelp, you can be matched with a therapist who knows how to treat anxiety, and you can communicate via audio, video, or live chat. Take the first step toward getting relief from anxiety and reach out to BetterHelp today.

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